Method and system for improving visual quality of an image signal

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image processing system where processing modules are used for processing an incoming image-in signal ( 101 ) in at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein the processing results in at least first and second processed image signals. A signal analyzer ( 111 ) determines one or more image-control parameters ( 121, 122 ) from the image-in signal and uses the control parameters to operate a combination circuit ( 120 ) in combining the processed image signals into an image-out signal ( 102 ).

1 . A method of image processing comprising: 
     (a) processing ( 400 ) an incoming image-in signal ( 101 ) in at least a first layer and a second layer ( 112 - 115 ), said processing resulting in at least a first and a second processed image signal ( 116 - 119 ) respectively; 
     (b) determining ( 401 ) one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from one or more of said signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ); and 
     (c) combining ( 402 ) said processed image signals ( 116 - 119 ) into an image-out signal ( 102 ) using said one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) as operation parameters. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining ( 401 ) said one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from one or more of said signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ) comprises determining said image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from the image-in signal ( 101 ). 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining ( 401 ) said one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from one or more of said signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ) comprises determining said image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from the processed image signals ( 116 - 119 ). 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining ( 401 ) said one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from one or more of said signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ) comprises determining said image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from the image-in signal ( 101 ) and from the processed image signals ( 116 - 119 ). 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein processing ( 400 ) said incoming image-in signal ( 101 ) in said at least first and second layers ( 112 - 115 ) further comprises determining statistical data ( 123 - 126 ), said statistical data being used as additional operation parameters for combining said processed image signals ( 116 - 119 ) into said single image-out signal ( 102 ). 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining said one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from said one or more signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ) comprises determining spatial image gradients of a texture component of the image of said one or more signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ). 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining said one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from said one or more signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ) comprises determining weighted image gradient value per pixel within an image block representing an average energy of image gradients of a texture component of the image of said one or more signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ). 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining said one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from said one or more signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ) comprises determining an average value and variance value per image block representing an average energy of image gradients of a texture component of the image of said one or more signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ). 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of processing ( 400 ) the incoming image-in signal ( 101 ) in said at least a first and a second layers ( 112 - 115 ) further comprises processing additionally a processed image signals ( 116 - 119 ) in at least one of said at least first and second layers ( 112 - 115 ). 
   
   
       10 . A computer readable media for storing instructions for enabling a processing unit to execute the method steps in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . An image processing system comprising: 
     (a) processing modules ( 103 ,  105 ,  107 ,  109 ) for processing an incoming image-in signal ( 101 ) in at least a first layer and a second layer ( 112 - 115 ), said processing resulting in at least first and second processed image signals ( 116 - 119 ), respectively; 
     (b) a signal analyzer ( 111 ) for determining one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) from one or more of said signals ( 101 ,  116 - 119 ); and 
     (c) a combination circuit ( 120 ) operated by said signal analyzer ( 111 ) for combining said processed image signals ( 116 - 119 ) into an image-out signal ( 102 ), wherein said operation is based on using said one or more image-control parameters ( 121 ,  122 ) as operation parameters.